In this assignment I will be explain the function of research in health and social care and discussing ethnical issues relating to research in health and social care sectors. Research often leads to changes in policies, laws and legislation. It also informs us of what is going on in our society. Research can have many different functions or purposes: identifying needs, highlighting gaps in provision, planning provision, informing policy or practice, extending knowledge and understanding, improving practice, aiding reflection, allowing progress to be monitored and examining topics of contemporary importance.
Identifying needs
Research is used to identify the needs of certain individuals. A teacher will keep a record of the students who need inhalers during P.E if they suffer from asthma. If their medical condition gets worse during the exercise lesson the teachers will have to discuss and arrange a shorter or less tiring workout for the suffering students. The exact needs of one individual may be comparable to those of others but, before a different treatment or care routine is presented for everyone, it is essential to bring out a specific study, or research project, to investigate the benefits to others. There are many organisations, often charities, which are devoted to improving the care of individuals with specific diseases and disorders through research.
Highlighting gaps in provision
The care needs of certain individuals change over time, with the change in employment continually increasing and decreasing. Having a large amount of children on a new housing estate is usually different to having needed people on a well-established estate with a higher amount of older adult residents. For example, the population in the UK has had its biggest increase on birth rate in almost 50 years, this is because in today’s generation there are younger people falling pregnant and giving birth.
Planning provision of services
Aid reflection
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Extending knowledge and understanding
Science and technology research leads to the development of new knowledge and understanding of materials and the living world. Although some scientific research may appear quite far removed from health and care needs, health and social care is a very important area in which scientific knowledge and discovery’s can be applied. New drugs, techniques and equipment for example: MRI scanners are all products of laboratory-based science research. For example: taking a cancer screening to get an early detection of the most common cancers. Other computerised devices allow continuous monitoring of the body so that critically ill patients have an improved chance of surviving previously fatal conditions.
Research into health and social care practice could possibly be associated with, for example: the needs of individuals, improving the quality of care given, ensuring the resources are used efficiently, without waste, addressing specific problems that have arisen and reducing the risks, e.g. of acquiring infections such as MRSA. Improvements made towards the practice could be: changing care routines, changing how care teams work together as team work is very essential, organising the layout of a care space, developing better communication for visitors, increasing choice, and enabling more autonomy. If a health or social care professional identifies that the care received by the individuals they are responsible for could be improved, they came carry out an action research within their everyday duties that leads to improvements to practice being made.
The professional would research published literature on the subject; they could plan a simple project, collecting information and finding out its effects, and then analyse and interpret it. If the results show positive or negative effects on individuals, the professionals could recommend that the change becomes standard practice in the care unit. Publishing a report of the research in a health or social care journal